The Most Sacred Treasure
by His Excellency, Archbishop Renato R. Martino
(From Catholic Near East Spring 1989)
Statement of the Papal Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, regarding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, November 15, 1988.

The Pontifical Mission for Palestine
by Brother Austin David, F.S.C.photos: CNEWA files
(From Catholic Near East Summer 1989)
Five popes have maintained a unique mission to serve the displaced people of the Middle East. The mission’s role has grown to meet new challenges.

Bethlehem Students Hopeful for Palestinian Statehood
Catholic News Service (19 September 2011)
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) — Palestinian
students at Bethlehem University spoke of how their lives
would change if the United Nations recognized Palestine
as an independent country.

Vatican Calls for ‘Courageous’ U.N. Decision on Palestine
Catholic News Service (29 September 2011)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Addressing the United Nations, a Vatican representative called for courageous decisions toward the two-state solution for the Holy Land after Palestinian leaders requested full U.N. membership for the Palestinian state.

Vatican Urges ‘Real Reforms’ in Syria
Catholic News Service (6 December 2011)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican official
deplored the growing violence in Syria, and called on
political leaders there to enact real reforms.

Attacks on Christians Tripled in 2003-10
Catholic News Service (6 March 2012)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Terrorist attacks on
Christians in Africa, the Middle East and Asia tripled in a
seven-year period, a Vatican official told a U.N. meeting.

Vatican on Syrian Victims
Catholic News Service (18 September 2012)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The U.N. Human Rights Council must approach the crisis in Syria from “the perspective of the victims,” and rally the international community to press for the end of hostilities and the immediate offering of humanitarian aid to the suffering, a Vatican official said.

Caritas in Lebanon Helps Syrian Refugees
Catholic News Service (29 November 2012)
BEIRUT (CNS) — When Syrian refugees arrive in Lebanon, help begins with a phone call to the U.N. refugee agency — if they can get through.

Vatican Praises UN Vote on Palestine
Catholic News Service (5 December 2012)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican praised a United Nations vote making Palestine a non-member observer state but called for full recognition of Palestinian sovereignty as necessary for peace in the region.

Palestinians Celebrate UN Vote
Catholic News Service (5 December 2012)
JERUSALEM (CNS) — In the West Bank, church bells rang at the midnight announcement that the U.N. General Assembly had voted to grant Palestinians observer status.

World Offers Words of Hope, Joy to Pope Francis
Catholic News Service (14 March 2013)
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic leaders worldwide expressed words of hope and joy in calling upon Catholics to come together as one body behind the papacy of Pope Francis.

Pope, U.N. Head Discuss Crises in Syria, Korean Peninsula
Catholic News Service (10 April 2013)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Each recognizing the important role the other plays on the global stage, Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met at the Vatican on 9 April, discussing common efforts to promote peace and protect human dignity.

Turkey to Build Camp for Christian Refugees
Catholic News Service (15 April 2013)
ISTANBUL (CNS) — Christians escaping the two-year civil war in Syria will soon have their own camp in which to live and receive humanitarian aid, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey told local media.

Drop Debate over Arming Syria, Says Patriarch
Catholic News Service (19 April 2013)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Unless western nations immediately find ways to bring peace to Syria instead of debating whether to arm opposition forces, the country will continue to be in turmoil and a victim of the West’s indecision, said a Syrian patriarch.

Sharing Jerusalem Key to Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Catholic News Service (16 August 2013)
JERUSALEM (CNS) — Coveted as a spiritual and political capital by both Israelis and Palestinians, the status of the city of Jerusalem has stood out as one of the pivotal topics in their ongoing peace negotiations.

Government Reps Say Christian Survival in Middle East ‘in Question’
Catholic News Service (13 March 2015)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a joint statement, representatives of more than 50 countries have recognized that Christians are particularly endangered in the Middle East, and they called on the international community to reaffirm the human right to freedom of religion.